Regulator assembly for the fine adjustment of timepiece movements

ABSTRACT

A regulator assembly for fine adjustment of timepiece movements comprises an index concentrically displaceable around the axis of the balance staff, such displacement permitting a coarse regulation of the active length of the balance spring. The index is in the form of a sliding block friction fitted in a slot of an element of the movement frame such as a plate or a bridge and capable of being moved, the slot having the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of the balance wheel. The sliding block bears a gudgeon having a pair of elements thereon defining a slot adapted to receive the balance spring, the gudgeon being pivotably movable parallel to the axis of the balance wheel. The elements of the pair are off-centered relative to the pivot axis of the gudgeon and co-linear with a line passing through the pivot axis, said line in the intermediate position of the gudgeon intercepting the axis of the balance staff whereby pivoting of the gudgeon enables a fine regulation of the timepiece movement.

v United States Patent ,[19]

Schneider REGULATOR ASSEMBLY FOR THE FINE ADJUSTMENT OF TIMEPIECE MOVEMENTS [75] Inventor: Jean-Claude Schneider, La

Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Fabrique dHorlogerie CHS Tissot &

F ils S .A., Le Lode, Switzerland [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,755

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 6, l972 Switzerland l46 80/72 [52] US. Cl. 58/109 [51] Int. Cl. G04b 17/14 [58] Field of Search 58/109-115 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,l9l,462 7/l9l6 Raff 58/109 3,45 l 212 6/1969 Marti 58/109 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,293,095 l2/l962 France 58/115 m1 3,815,355 i451 June 11, 1974 Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Griffin, Branigan and Butler ABSTRACT A regulator assembly for fine adjustment of timepiece movements comprises an index concentrically displaceable around the axis of the balance staff, such displacement permitting a coarse regulation of the active length of the balance spring. The index is in the form of a sliding block friction fitted in a slot of an element of the movement frame such as a plate or a bridge and capable of being moved, the slot having the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of the balance wheel. The sliding block bears a gudgeon having a pair of elements thereon defining a slot adapted to receive the balance spring, the gudgeon being pivotably movable parallel to the axis of the balance wheel. The elements of the pair are off-centered relative to the pivot axis of the gudgeon and co-linear with a line passing through the pivot axis, said line in the intermediate position of the gudgeon intercepting the axis of the balance staff whereby pivoting of the gudgeon enables a fine regulation of the timepiece movement.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 11 m4 3.815355 sum 10? 2 PATENTEDJUM H m4 3.815355 sum 2 or 2 FIG. 3.

REGULATOR ASSEMBLY FOR THE FINE ADJUSTMENT OF TIMEPIECE MOVEMENTS The present invention seeks to provide a regulator assembly for effecting fine adjustment in a timpiece movement and which comprises an index which may be displaced concentrically around the balance staff axis, this displacement providing a coarse regulation of the active length of the balance spring.

In most presently known-regulator assemblies, a fine displacement of the index concentric to the axis of the balance staff is effected by almost every known form of motion reducing mechanism including cams and screws for example. Such means are insufficient for regulation of a timepiece within a range of a few seconds per day.

In a known form of regulator assembly one of the ele- 'ments of the index buckle is displaced, the other ele- The invention therefore provides a regulator assembly for fine adjustment of timepiece movements comprising an index concentrically displaceable around the axis of the balance staff, such displacement permitting a coarse regulation of the active length of the balance spring wherein the index is in the form of a sliding block friction fitted in a slot of an element of the movement frame such as a plate or a bridge and capable of being moved, the slot having the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of the balance wheel, said sliding block bearing a gudgeon having a pair of elements thereon defining a slot adapted to receive the balance spring, said gudgeon being pivotably movable parallel to the axis of the balance wheel, said pair of elements being off-centred relative to the pivot axis of the gudgeon and co-linear with a line passing through the pivot axis, said line in the intermediate position of the gudgeon intercepting the axis of the balance staff whereby pivoting of thegudgeon enables a fine regulation of the timepiece movement.

The attached drawings show by way of example two forms of regulator assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the first form FIG. 2 is a section according to II II of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second form of the inven-- tion.

The first form of the regulator assembly as shown in FIG. 1 and 2 is mounted on a timepiece movement on plate 1 for example.

This regulator assembly comprises an index in the movement of the sliding block. In order to retain it within the slot, on one side are to be found four projecting members or bosses 2a, one at each angle of the sector and which are retained by a shoulder 30 of the slot 3 while on the other side two projecting members or bosses 2b are located on the axis of symmetry of the sliding block and are retained by a shoulder 3b of the slot'3. Sliding block 2 is introduced into the slot 3 by placing bosses 2b through openings 3' and 3" provided to this effect in slot 3 and following this operation, sliding the block 2 in the slot.

The central portion of the sliding block is provided with a circular hole 4'in which is pressed with sliding friction a gudgeon 5. Gudgeon 5 is provided with two elements 6 and 7 which define a slot 8 designed to receive the balance spring and so to limit the active portion of this spring (not shown). Elements 6 and 7 are off-centred relative to the pivot axis of gudgeon 5. In order to move the gudgeon an arm 9 extends therefrom along the direction of slot 3. Arm 9 ends in a fork 10 which is adapted to receive an eccentric pin 11 fastened to a second gudgeon 12 having a slotted head 13 to permit adjustment thereof. Scale marks may be provided opposite the slot in head 13. In the intermediate position as shown in the drawingthe driving pin 11 is at the bottom of fork 10. In this position elements 6 and 7, which form a slot for reception of the balance spring,

are both located on a line extending from the centre of gudgeon 5 to the balance wheel axis.

Pivoting of arm 9 brings about a pivoting of gudgeon 5 and thereby slot 8. Such pivoting, effected by rotation of pin 11 in fork l0, enables a very fine regulation of the active length of the balance spring whereby a rotation of approximately 10 of gudgeon 12 brings about approximately a change in the regulation of the movement of one second per day, such variation causing a slowing down when slot 8 is displaced towards the balance spring stud and a speeding up for displacement in the opposite sense.

A second sliding block 2, similar in all respects to the first mentioned, may also slide within slot 3. This sliding block 2 is provided in its circular hole 4' with an element forming the balance spring stud. In order to fix the end of the balance spring such stud is provided with a slot in which the balance spring for example may be glued.

Through displacement of sliding block 2' the beat of the movement may be regulated.

In the variation shown in plan by FIG. 3 the single slot has been replaced by two slots 20 and 21, the first being adapted to receive a sliding block carrying the regulator assembly and the other the sliding block carrying the balance spring stud.

Both forms of the invention are particularly adapted to be manufactured from injected plastic material.

What I claim is:

l. A regulator assembly for fine adjustment of timepiece movements comprising an index concentricallydisplaceable around the axis of the balance staff, such displacement permitting a'coarse regulation of the active length of the balance spring wherein the index is in the form of a sliding block friction fitted in a slot of an element of the movement frame and capable of being moved, the slot having the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of the balance wheel, said sliding bloc-k bearing a gudgeon having a pair of elements thereon defining a slot adapted to receive the balance 3. A regulator assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movement plate and sliding block are formed from injected plastic material.

4. A regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein the gudgeon is fixed to an arm terminated by a fork adapted to receive a pin eccentrically mounted on a rtatable fine adjustment member.

5. A regulator assembly according to claim 4 wherein the movement frame comprises a balance wheel bridge.

6. A regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein a second sliding block is mounted within a slot, said second sliding block having means for fastening the end of the balance spring, the displacement of said second sliding block enabling regulation of the beat of the movement.

7. A regulator assembly according to claim 6 wherein the second sliding block is mounted in a second slot in the form of an arc of the circle.

8. A regulator assembly according to claim 6 wherein the movement frame comprises a balance wheel bridge.

9. A regulator assembly according to claim 6 wherein the movement frame, sliding blocks and displacement means are formed from injected plastic material. 

1. A regulator assembly for fine adjustment of timepiece movements comprising an index concentrically displaceable around the axis of the balance staff, such displacement permitting a coarse regulation of the active length of the balance spring wherein the index is in the form of a sliding block friction fitted in a slot of an element of the movement frame and capable of being moved, the slot having the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of the balance wheel, said sliding block bearing a gudgeon having a pair of elements thereon defining a slot adapted to receive the balance spring, said gudgeon being pivotably movable parallel to the axis of the balance wheel, said pair of elements being off centered relative to the pivot axis of the gudgeon and co-linear with a line passing through the pivot axis, said line in the intermediate position of the gudgeon intercepting the axis of the balance staff whereby pivoting of the gudgeon enables a fine regulation of the timepiece movement.
 2. A regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein the movement frame comprises a balance wheel bridge.
 3. A regulator assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movement plate and sliding block are formed from injected plastic material.
 4. A regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein the gudgeon is fixed to an arm terminated by a fork adapted to receive a pin eccentrically mounted on a rotatable fine adjustment member.
 5. A regulator assembly according to claim 4 wherein the movement frame comprises a balance wheel bridge.
 6. A regulator assembly according to claim 1 wherein a second sliding block is mounted within a slot, said second sliding block having means for fastening the end of the balance spring, the displacement of said second sliding block enabling regulation of the beat of the movement.
 7. A regulator assembly according to claim 6 wherein the second sliding block is mounted in a second slot in the form of an arc of the circle.
 8. A regulator assembly according to claim 6 wherein the movement frame comprises a balance wheel bridge.
 9. A regulator assembly according to claim 6 wherein the movement frame, sliding blocks and displacement means are formed from injected plastic material. 